Man has long wondered about the
purpose of life: “Where did I come from? What am I here for? Where
am I going?” We live in social turmoil, people striving frantically
to “get ahead,” to “make an impression,” or to “look out for
number one!” Yet in these pursuits no real satisfaction, no real
sense of accomplishment is found. Trying to out-do others leaves us
with an empty and worthless feeling. What is life all about anyway?
Solomon was a rich and powerful
king, yet he was plagued by the same questions that bother us today.
His search for life’s purpose is recorded, with God’s guidance, in
the book of Ecclesiastes. And he recorded some answers, too! So this
man who was “granted wisdom and knowledge” (2 Chr 1:12), the richest
and most powerful man of his time, is certainly worthy to be heard.
Knowledge:
Many believe that having wisdom and knowledge is the goal in the
purpose of life today. Consider Solomon. God blessed him, and in 1
Kings 4:30 we read that “Solomon’s
wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country,
and all the wisdom of
Egypt
.”
If
life’s purpose is found in wisdom and knowledge, then Solomon surely
found his purpose. But look at what he wrote.
“And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and
folly: I perceived that this also is
vexation of spirit. For in much wisdom is
much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.”
(Ecc 1:17-18)
The
many educational degrees that a person can earn may help to prepare
him to live, but they can never satisfy man’s inner needs. If
someone gained all the wisdom the world had to offer, he would still
be empty if that is all he had.
Riches: We also find out about Solomon
that he was very rich (1 Ki 10:23). His personal annual income in gold
alone would be worth more than $200 million today! Well, could riches
make his life meaningful? He writes in Ecclesiastes 2:9-11,
“So I was great, and increased more than all that were before
me in
Jerusalem
: also my wisdom remained with me. And whatsoever mine eyes desired I
kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart
rejoiced in all my labor: and this was my portion of all my labor.
Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the
labor that I had labored to do: and, behold, all was
vanity and vexation of spirit, and therewas no profit under
the sun.”
Riches
were not enough for Solomon! Jesus warns us in Luke 12:15, “Take
heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in
the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” Really, how
much money would it take to buy happiness? A home, a car? Then what
would we want next? Christ put it in the proper perspective in Matthew
16:26. “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world,
and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his
soul?” Obviously, riches cannot satisfy man’s real needs and
purpose in life.
Honor: How about honor and prestige?
To be treated with the greatest of respect? To be the most famous
person on earth? In his days, that was Solomon! (1 Ki 4:34, 10:24) Yet
his fame could not satisfy him. He wrote in Proverbs 16:18-19, “Pride
goeth before
destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Better itistobe
of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the
proud.”
When
he looked at his life with all its power and wealth, he realized the
truth and said,
“Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so
it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in
my heart, that this also is
vanity. For thereis no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool
forever; seeing that which now is
in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man?
as the fool. Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought
under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.” (Ecc 2:15-17)
Solomon
had power and prestige but it wasn’t enough. That is why Jesus
warned about seeking “the
chief seats” and “salutations
in the market places” in Matthew 23:5-7. The praise of men is
both fleeting and uncertain. It cannot satisfy.
Worldly pleasures:
Solomon had it all, including many women (1 Ki 11:1,3). If carnal
pleasure is the answer to life’s purpose, then Solomon certainly was
not lacking. But notice his words in Ecclesiastes 2:1. “I
said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore
enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is
vanity.” Pleasure was not enough.
Most
of us would have to agree that Moses found purpose in his life; he
accomplished great things. But his purpose was not found in seeking
after carnal pleasure.
“By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be
called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer
affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin
for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the
treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the
reward.” (Heb 11:24-26)
There
is the key phrase: “for a
season”. The pleasures of sin do not last very long. That is why
carnal pleasure is not the answer to life’s purpose. There are far
too many empty lives in our society today, seeking after a life of
fulfillment and purpose, but vainly trying to find it in pursuit of
pleasure.
So
what is life’s purpose? We can never know until we first know its
source. Where did “life” come from? Genesis 2:7 tells us, “And
the LORD God formed man of
the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of
life; and man became a living soul.” God created us, and he gave
us this life.
There
is something of man that is not found in any other of God’s
creation, and Solomon wrote about it in Ecclesiastes 12:7. Man, formed
from the dust, dies and returns to dust; but that is not true with ALL
of man! The “spirit returns to
God”. Our purpose is different from that of dogs and cows and
other creatures God made. Our purpose is clearly stated in
Ecclesiastes 12:13. “Let us
hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his
commandments: for this is the whole duty
of man.” That is our purpose of life. That is what Solomon
discovered thousands of years ago. God gave us this life, and he
intends for us to use it a certain way.
Before
the world was, God had a purpose for our life, and that purpose is
found “in Christ” (Eph 1:3-6). God created us and gave us life
so that we might bring Glory to Him. (Eph 3:11) That is the reason why
Paul wrote that when we are “baptized
into Jesus Christ, baptized into his death”, we are then “raised
to walk in newness of life” (Rom 6:3-4). Only in Christ
do we find the meaning and purpose for which God created us in His own
image and gave us life.
Our
purpose in life is not to be found in the transient things that
perish. The hope of the Christian is found in the eternal heavenly
things (2 Cor 4:16-5:1). True purpose and fulfillment can never be
found with our lives centered in this world. Only when we look beyond
this life and the grave, can real meaning for life be found.
Christ
alone can give purpose to our life and grant us the peace and eternal
joy for which our soul hungers.
QUESTION: Can you explain the
practice of fasting?
ANSWER: “And
they said unto Him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make
prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat
and drink?And He said
unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while
the bridegroom is with them?But
the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them,
and then shall they fast in those days.” (Luke 5:33-35)
Situations
In Which Fasting Was Practiced
At a Time of Mourning or Serious
Concern:
-Death of King Saul and his sons
(1 Samuel 31:7-13)
-King Darius and his concern about
Daniel being placed in the den of lions,
“Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night
fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and
his sleep went from him.” (Daniel 6:18)
As a Petition:
-David and his child (2 Samuel
12:14-23)
-Ezra and Israelites upon
returning from Babylonian captivity (Ezra 8:21-23)
-People of
Nineveh
upon preaching of Jonah (Jonah 3:5-9)
At a Time of Dedication:
-Exodus 34:27-28, “And the Lord spake unto Moses, Write thou these words: for
after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and
with
Israel
.And he was there with
the Lord forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor
drink water.And he wrote
upon the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.”
-Matthew 4:1-2, “Then
was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of
the devil.And when He had
fasted forty days and forty nights, He was afterward an hungered.”
Sending on a
Mission
Journey:
-Barnabas and Saul (Acts 13:1-3)
Ordaining of Elders:
-“And
when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed
with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on Whom they believed.”
(Acts 14:23)
Fasting
In The Christian Dispensation
There are several examples of
fasting in the Christian Dispensation. In Luke 5:33-35 (quoted at the
beginning) Jesus enjoins fasting. Acts 13:1-3 (mentioned earlier)
shows fasting by church at
Antioch
. Acts 14:23 (mentioned earlier) shows fasting in appointment of
elders. Acts 27:33-35 records fasting on board the ship with Paul. In
2 Corinthians 6:5, Paul mentions our presenting ourselves approved
before God in “fastings.”
In 2 Corinthians 11:27, Paul refers to his “fastings
often.”
In his instructions regarding
marital relationship, Paul enjoins abstinence during times of fasting.“Defraud ye not one the
other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give
yourselves to fasting
and prayer; and come
together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.”
(1 Cor. 7:5)
Principle
In Fasting
Fasting is an expression to God,
not something to be seen by men.
“Moreover
when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for
they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast.Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy
face; that thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which
is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee
openly.” (Matthew 6:16-18)
What
Is Involved In Fasting?
The length of time is as
determined by oneself to be appropriate.Various lengths of time are mentioned in Scripture:
-Forty days and nights (Matthew
4:2, 1 Kings 19:7-8)
-Fourteen days in ship to be
wrecked at Melita (Acts 27:33-35)
-Three days and nights (Esther
4:16)
-Twice in a week, perhaps one day
each (Luke 18:12)
-Undetermined length (Acts 14:23)
Some in our day have engaged in
juice fasts, but in the Bible fasts involved absence of both food and
drink.Esther 4:16, “Fast ye for me, and neither eatnordrink
three days, night or day.”Exodus
34:28 of Moses, “He did
neither eat bread, nordrink water.”To be sure, going without water for an extended period would be
extremelydifficult. It is
my opinion, however, that under such circumstances of devotion one
would receive added strength from God to endure.Regarding the situation with Jesus, Luke writes, “And
in those days He did eat nothing: and when they were ended, He afterward
hungered” (Luke 4:2).
According to Paul (1 Cor. 7:5)
fasting would also include absence of sexual relation between husband
and wife during this period of time.
Consider the position of those
whose physical condition could be severely harmed by fasting - such as
diabetics. “I beseech you
therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your
bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable
service” (Romans 12:1).What
would be accomplished, however sincere our purpose, if we jeopardize
our ability to continue in effective service?
What
If One Does Not Fast?
Fasting has the effect of causing
us to feel humbled before our God.In Psalms it is written, “The
Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as
be of a contrite spirit” (Psalms 34:18).To fail to fast is to lose the humbling experience which is the
very object of fasting.
Observations
Fasting is a matter of purposely
subduing desires (even proper and reasonable desires) of the flesh in
favor of the spirit.Upon
finding Peter asleep, Jesus said, “Watch
and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is
willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41).Upon instructing the disciples about their lack of proper
faith, Jesus said, "Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by fasting and prayer"
(Matthew 17:21). Fasting is a foregoing of the natural desires of the
flesh in preference to pure, unhindered yielding to the spiritual.
Fasting appears to be somewhat an
extension of prayer; that is, a greater effort, a sacrifice of usual
desires, and a more concerted effort than simply praying.
Some today might dismiss fasting
as archaic or applicable only to Biblical times.But Jesus clearly stated, "The
days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and
then shall they fast in those days." (Mark 2:20).
1.God
gave the Israelites a deliverer named Ehud. What fact was
mentioned about him?HE
WAS LEFT-HANDED (Judges 3:15)
2.In
describing God’s greatness, what three constellations did Job
mention?THE
BEAR, ORION, AND THE PLEIADES (Job 9:9)
3.Who
was spared from slaughter by the six men with battle-axes
according to Ezekiel’s vision?THOSE WITH A MARK ON THEIR FOREHEAD (Ezekiel 9:4-7)
4.Who
became upset when Jesus healed a woman on the Sabbath who had been
bent over for eighteen years?THE RULER OF THE SYNAGOGUE (Luke 13:11-17)
5.In
Paul’s writings to Timothy, Paul said some will appear in the
latter times forbidding what two things?MARRIAGE AND EATING CERTAIN FOODS (1 Timothy 4:3)
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